Amanda Shavers-davis

About

I graduated from UNA in 1994 with a degree in art, I focused my job search on photography.I began work at The Itawamba County Times in Itawamba, Miss. in 1996 as a photographer/reporter. I covered local issues including crime, education and a variety of community events.I also learned to shoot PMTs then used them in paste up. By the time I left the paper, less than a year later, we had moved away from PMTs and were no longer printing in house. I consider myself fortunate to have learned "old school" just before it was obsolete. My hometown, locally owned daily newspaper was purchased in 1997 by American Publishing.I was hired as The Cullman Times first full-time photographer. (We were sold a year later to CNHI).Over the years I taught myself page design. Mostly to have more control over how my photographs were used and presented. Not too many issues with territory since the editors were also reporters with deadlines and were more than happy with the layout help.I continued to take on more responsibilities. I left writing behind in Itawamba, but remembered how to listen and ask questions.After several changes in management over the next 9 years I became news editor. I now do everything but write. (see job experience).